Association of HLA class I alleles with aloplecia areata in Chinese Hans

BACKGROUND: Some studies suggested that human HLA status may potentiate development of the AA phenotype and exists ethic differences. No report has been published about HLA class I alleles associated with AA in Chinese Hans. OBJECTIVE: To study the distribution of HLA class I alleles and haplotypes in Chinese Hans AA patients and the relation of HLA class I profile with age of onset, severity, duration of current attack, past history and family history. METHODS: The polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific primer (PCR-SSP) method was used to analyze the distribution of HLA class I alleles in 192 patients with AA and 252 healthy controls in Chinese Hans. RESULTS: The frequencies of HLA-A*02, -A*03, -B*18, -B*27, -B*52 and -Cw*0704 were significantly higher in patients than in controls. The A*2-B*18, A*2-B*27, A*2-B*52, A*2-Cw*0704, B*18-Cw*0704, B*27-Cw*0704, B*52-Cw*0704 were found as high-risk haplotypes in developing AA in this study. The HLA-A*02 and -A*03 were observed increased frequencies in patients less than 50% hair loss, and HLA-B*27 equally in patients of 50-99% hair loss, alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis. The frequencies of HLA-A*02 and -B*27 were significantly raised in recurrent patients, and ones of HLA-A*02, -A*03 and -B*27 similarly in patients without a positive family history. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the positive association of HLA class I alleles and haplotypes with AA. There may be differences in genetic background in patients with different age of onset, grade of scalp hair loss, duration of current attack, a past history and a family history.     

Association of HLA loci alleles and antigens in Saudi patients with vitiligo

HLA complex is composed of several closely linked loci, each containing several alleles, yielding a high expression of polymorphism. Vitiligo, a commonly acquired dermatological disorder, has been associated with different HLA antigens in different ethnic groups. In this study, HLA classes I (HLA-A, B, and C) and II (HLA-DR, DQ) antigens/alleles were analyzed in a group of 80 Saudi subjects consisting of vitiligo patients (40) and matched controls (40). The frequency of antigens of various HLA loci was tested using two-stage microcytotoxicity assays, while the frequency of alleles of HLA-DR was screened by polymerase chain reaction/sequence specific primers (PCR/SSP) method. The frequencies of HLA-B7, B15, Bw6, Cw6, Cw7, and DRB4*010101 were found to be significantly higher in vitiligo patients compared to controls [P = 0.029, 0.015, 0.033, 0.009, 0.043, and 0.015, respectively, with relative risk (RR) > or = 3, etiologic fraction (EF) > or = 0.4]. On the other hand, HLA-A9, B5, DQ1, and DRB3*010101 were significantly decreased in vitiligo patients compared to healthy Saudis [P = 0.008, 0.004, 0.028, and 0.04, respectively, with RR < 1 and preventive fraction (PF) < 0.5]. Among the patients, the highest allele frequency was noted for DRB4*010101(70%), while in controls it was for DRB3*010101 (72.5%). These results for antigens and allele frequency of various HLA Loci in vitiligo patients and control subjects suggested that HLA-B7, Bw6, Cw6, Cw7, and DRB4*010101 could be susceptible to vitiligo, while HLA-A9, B5, DQ1, and DRB3*010101 might be negatively associated with the development of vitiligo in Saudis.     

MHC haplotypic association in Chinese Han patients with vitiligo

BACKGROUND: Serological typing of the human leucocyte antigen (HLA) has shown discrepancies in HLA associations with vitiligo in different ethnic populations. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the distributions of HLA at class I and II loci that may contribute to the genetic susceptibility of vitiligo patients in Chinese Hans population. METHODS: We analysed the allelic frequencies of HLA class I and II by using the polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific primer (PCR-SSP) method in 187 patients with vitiligo and 273 controls in Chinese Hans. The linkage disequilibrium was calculated from a 2 x 2 table. RESULTS: Two-locus haplotypes including HLA-A25-B13, HLA-A25-B27, HLA-A25-Cw*0602, HLA-A25-DQA1*0302, HLA-A25-DQA1*0601, HLA-A25-DQB1*0303, HLA-B13-Cw*0602, HLA-B13-DQA1*0302, HLA-B13-DQA1*0601, HLA-B27-Cw*0602, HLA-B27-DQA1*0302, HLA-B27-DQA1*0601, HLA-B27-DQB1*0303, HLA-B27-DQB1*0503, HLA-Cw*0602-DQA1*0302, HLA-Cw*0602-DQA1*0601, HLA-Cw*0602-DQB1*0303, HLA-Cw*0602-DQB1*0503 and HLA-DQA1*0302-DQB1*0503 were associated with all types of vitiligo in Chinese Hans. The extended haplotypes HLA-A25-B13-Cw*0602, HLA-A25-B27-Cw*0602, HLA-DQA1*0302-DQB1*0303-Cw*0602 and HLA-B13-DQB1*0303-Cw*0602 were found to be associated with all types of vitiligo in Chinese Hans, whereas the frequency of HLA-A25-Cw*0602-DQA1*0302 was significantly increased in generalized vitiligo but not in localized vitiligo. The frequencies of HLA-A25-DQA1*0302-DQB1*0503 and HLA-A30-DQA1*0302-DQB1*0303 were higher in childhood vitiligo than in adult vitiligo, and the frequency of HLA-A25-B13-DQB1*0303-Cw*0602 was shown to be associated with adult vitiligo but not childhood vitiligo. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates not only the differential association between HLA markers and types of vitiligo according to distribution or age at onset but also newly found high-risk haplotypes in Chinese vitiligo patients.     

Association of HLA loci alleles and antigens in Saudi patients with vitiligo

HLA complex is composed of several closely linked loci, each containing several alleles, yielding a high expression of polymorphism. Vitiligo, a commonly acquired dermatological disorder, has been associated with different HLA antigens in different ethnic groups. In this study, HLA classes I (HLA-A, B, and C) and II (HLA-DR, DQ) antigens/alleles were analyzed in a group of 80 Saudi subjects consisting of vitiligo patients (40) and matched controls (40). The frequency of antigens of various HLA loci was tested using two-stage microcytotoxicity assays, while the frequency of alleles of HLA-DR was screened by polymerase chain reaction/sequence specific primers (PCR/SSP) method. The frequencies of HLA-B7, B15, Bw6, Cw6, Cw7, and DRB4*010101 were found to be significantly higher in vitiligo patients compared to controls [P = 0.029, 0.015, 0.033, 0.009, 0.043, and 0.015, respectively, with relative risk (RR) ≥ 3, etiologic fraction (EF) ≥ 0.4]. On the other hand, HLA-A9, B5, DQ1, and DRB3*010101 were significantly decreased in vitiligo patients compared to healthy Saudis [P = 0.008, 0.004, 0.028, and 0.04, respectively, with RR < 1 and preventive fraction (PF) < 0.5]. Among the patients, the highest allele frequency was noted for DRB4*010101(70%), while in controls it was for DRB3*010101 (72.5%). These results for antigens and allele frequency of various HLA Loci in vitiligo patients and control subjects suggested that HLA-B7, Bw6, Cw6, Cw7, and DRB4*010101 could be susceptible to vitiligo, while HLA-A9, B5, DQ1, and DRB3*010101 might be negatively associated with the development of vitiligo in Saudis.     

华东地区汉族HLA-Ⅱ类基因与白癜风临床特征的相关性

目的：探讨华东地区汉族HLA-Ⅱ类基因与白癜风临床特征的相关性。方法：采用聚合酶链反应-序列特异性寡核苷酸探针(PCR-SSOP)方法检测华东地区汉族白癜风患者HLA-DRBl、DQAl和DQBl位点的等位基因，使用SPSS 10．0统计软件分析。结果：HLA-DQAl ^*0103与伴发内分泌疾病的患者有显著正相关，DRB l^*09与C4降低的患者明显负相关。按临床类型分析，发现局限型与DRBI*09和DQAl*03正相关，非节段型与DQAl*03正相关。结论：在华东地区汉族人群中，白癜风的临床特征与HIA-Ⅱ类基因有一定的相关性。     

Comparisons of clinical features of HLA‐DRB1*07 positive and negative vitiligo patients in Chinese Han population

Background Human leucocyte antigen (HLA)‐II alleles have been found to be associated with vitiligo in different populations, and several studies also suggested that HLA class II alleles/haplotypes were associated with a different type vitiligo. Of HLA class II alleles, DRB1*07 has consistently shown a positive association with vitiligo in Chinese Han population. Objective To further explore the relationship between DRB1*07 and vitiligo and to evaluate the DRB1*07 effect on the clinical features of vitiligo in Chinese Han population. Methods This study investigated DRB1*07 allele distribution in 1178 unrelated Chinese vitiligo patients and 1743 healthy controls using polymerase chain reaction/sequence specific primer method and observed clinical differences between DRB1*07 positive and DRB1*07 negative patients. Results The analysis of the 1178 cases and 1743 controls revealed a highly association between DRB1*07 allele and vitiligo [odds ratio (OR) = 1.97, P = 2.13 × 10^?17]. DRB1*07 positive patients had early disease onset (OR = 1.49, P = 0.001), higher frequency of family history (OR = 1.44, P = 0.006) compared with DRB1*07 negative patients. Conclusions The DRB1*07 showed significant association with vitiligo in the study population. This study confirmed that DRB1*07 positive patients had some obvious clinical differences from DRB1*07 negative patients in the Chinese Han population.     

Targeting skin: vitiligo and autoimmunity

In this issue, Singh and co-workers describe the results of classical typing of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles in 1,404 vitiligo patients and 902 unaffected controls from North India and follow-up HLA typing in 355 cases and 441 controls from Gujarat. The increased frequency of DRB1*07:01 in North Indian and Gujarat populations with generalized and localized vitiligo and in several vitiligo populations studied previously suggests that it contributes to autoimmunity and destruction of melanocytes.     

Genotyping for HLA-A, B and C alleles in Japanese patients with pemphigus: prevalence of Asian alleles of the HLA-B15 family

BACKGROUND: There have been only limited reports on major histocompatibility complex class I antigens in pemphigus. OBJECTIVES: To characterize HLA-A, B and C class I alleles by genotyping in Japanese patients with pemphigus, and to analyse the possible association of class I alleles with disease susceptibility within a relatively homogeneous ethnic population. METHODS: Alleles of HLA-A, B and C, and DRB1 and DQB1 loci were fully determined in 51 Japanese patients with pemphigus. RESULTS: Asian alleles of the HLA-B15 family, including the allele B*1507, which was significantly increased in comparison with normal controls, were prevalent in patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV). The prevalence of B*15 alleles in patients with PV was not due to linkage disequilibrium with HLA-DR4 or DR14 alleles, which have been shown to confer strong susceptibility to PV across racial barriers. In contrast to the unique distribution of the HLA-B alleles, HLA-A and C alleles were unremarkable in patients with PV when compared with normal control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that there may be differences in the ethnic concentrations of different HLA-B alleles in patients with PV.     

Association between alopecia areata and HLA Class I and II in Turkey

HLA class I and II alleles have been described in patients with alopecia areata (AA). As in other immune mediated diseases, the HLA alleles associated with AA may influence the patient's ability to respond to immune challenges from both self and non-self antigens and can offer clues to the cause, prognosis, and potential therapy for the disease. The aim of this study was to determine which HLA class I and II alleles are associated with Turkish alopecia areata patients. Sixty-three patients with AA, alopecia totalis, or alopecia universalis were included in this study and compared with seventy-six healthy transplant donors. HLA DNA typing was performed by the PCR/SSP method. The frequency of HLA-B62 was significantly higher in patients than in controls. HLA-A2, HLA-A24, HLA-B35, HLA-DRB1*11, and HLA-DRB1*15 were significantly less common in patients than in the control group.     

Association of HLA class I and class II alleles with bullous pemphigoid in Chinese Hans

Background

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is one of the most common autoimmune skin diseases. Associations of genes, especially human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DQ alleles, with BP indicate that genetic predisposition contributes to the disease.

Analysis of HLA antigens in Croatian patients with psoriasis

In common with most autoimmune diseases, psoriasis is associated with some HLA antigens. We studied the distribution of HLA antigens in Croatian patients with psoriasis: 108 patients were divided into groups according to family history and age of disease onset. HLA antigens were analyzed serologically and HLA-C alleles were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction. We found significant increases in HLA-A2, -B17, -B37 and -B13 antigens and highly significant increases in HLA-Cw*0602 and DR7 antigens in psoriatic patients compared with controls. Patients with type I psoriasis (early onset, positive family history) showed highly significant associations with Cw*0602 [p < 0.00001; relative risk (RR) = 14.45] and DR7 (p < 0.00001; RR = 15.09) antigens. Patients with type II psoriasis (late onset, no family history) had a significant association with Cw*03 antigen (p = 0.008; RR = 0.17). In conclusion, HLA-B13, -B17, Cw*0602 and -DR7 antigens are associated with a significant risk of psoriasis in the Croatian population and the Cw*0602 allele has the strongest association, especially for type I psoriasis.     

Association of HLA alleles and haplotypes with vitiligo in Moroccan patients: a case–control study

The aim of this study was to identify HLA class II alleles that may be involved in vitiligo genetic susceptibility in the Moroccan population and to determine susceptible and protective HLA alleles/haplotypes in vitiligo. One-hundred unrelated vitiligo patients and 300 healthy unrelated controls were studied for HLA class II alleles by polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific primers. The phenotypic frequency of DRB1*07 (OR = 2.23, p _c = 0.014) was significantly higher, while that of DRB1*03 (OR = 0.40, p _c = 0.014) was significantly lower in patients than in controls. Haplotype DRB1*07–DQB1*02 (OR = 2.25, p _c = 0.024) was positively associated with vitiligo patients, while haplotype DRB1*03–DQB1*02 (OR = 0.35, p _c = 0.012) was negatively associated with this group. Vitiligo patients with positive family history and negative anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (anti-TPO) have an extremely high phenotype frequency of DRB1*07–DQB1*02 haplotype (OR = 2.91, p _c = 0.048 and OR = 2.62, p _c = 0.00475, respectively). DRB1*03–DQB1*02 (OR = 0.32, p _c = 0.048 and OR = 0.38, p _c = 0.048, respectively) was negatively associated with patients without a family history and negative anti-TPO. This study demonstrated the positive association of HLA class II alleles and haplotypes with vitiligo in the Moroccan population. There may be differences in HLA haplotypes distribution in patients according to family history and anti-TPO profile.     

有无家族史白癜风与HLA—I类抗原的关联性研究

目的 探讨HLSA－I类抗原与中国北方汉族人群中有及无家族遗传史白癜风的相关性。方法 家庭史阳性及阴性白癜风患者各20例，采用HLA血清学分型技术检测HLA－A、B位点的抗原特异性。结果 与100例正常对照比较，有明确家族史的白癜风患者HLA－A10、B13、B15抗原频率显著增设，而无家族史的患者HLA－A30＋31、B15显著增高（Pc均＜0．01），非节段HLA－A10、A30＋31、B1、B13、B15显著增高（Pc均＜0．01），成年及未成年发病型HLA－B13、B15显著增高，儿童发病型则仅HLA－B13显著增高（Pc均＜0．01）。结论 该结果为进一步揭示白癜风的易感基因及免疫遗传发病机制提供了线索。     

Haplotype associations of the major histocompatibility complex with psoriasis in Northeastern Thais

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the distributions of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) at class I and II loci that may contribute to the genetic susceptibility to psoriasis patients in the north-eastern Thai population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the allelic frequencies of HLA class I and II by using the polymerase chain reaction-amplification refractory mutation system (PCR-ARMS) technique and polymerase chain reaction-single stranded conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP), respectively, in 140 north-eastern Thais with psoriasis that were sudivided into two groups: one with age at onset < 40 years (type I psoriasis; 95 cases) and the other with age at onset > 40 years (type II psoriasis; 45 cases). Three hundred healthy unrelated north-eastern Thais were used as controls. RESULTS: HLA-A*01, -A*0207, -A*30, -B*08, -B*13, -B*4601, -B*57, -Cw*01, -Cw*0602, and -DRB1*07 were positively associated with type I psoriasis, whereas HLA-A*24, -A*33, and -Cw*04 were negatively associated with type I psoriasis with statistical significance when compared to the controls. The Cw*0602 allele showed the strongest correlation with this type. In addition, the frequencies of HLA-A*0207, -A*30, -Cw*01, and -DRB1*1401 were significantly increased in type II psoriasis. HLA-A*207, -B*4601, -Cw*01, -DRB1*09, -DQB1*0303 (AH46.1), HLA-A*01-B*57-Cw*0602-DRB1*07-DQB1*0303 (AH57.1), and HLA-A*30, -B*13, -Cw*0602, -DRB1*07, and -DQB1*02 (AH13.1) were identified as high-risk major histocompatibility complex (MHC) halotypes for psoriasis patients in the early onset group in north-eastern Thais. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates not only the differential association between HLA markers and types of psoriasis according to age at onset, but also a newly found high-risk and a protective haplotype in Thai psoriasis patients.     

Association of human leukocyte antigen class I antigens in Iranian patients with pemphigus vulgaris

There are a limited number of reports indicating the role of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I alleles in pemphigus vulgaris. This study was designed to highlight the association of HLA class I alleles with pemphigus vulgaris in Iran. Fifty patients with pemphigus vulgaris, diagnosed based on clinical, histological and direct immunofluorescence findings were enrolled into this study. The control group consisted of 50 healthy, age‐ and sex‐matched individuals. HLA typing of class I (A, B and C alleles) was carried out using polymerase chain reaction based on the sequence‐specific primer method. This study showed the higher frequency of HLA‐B*44:02 (P = 0.007), ‐C*04:01 (P < 0.001), ‐C*15:02 (P < 0.001) and ‐C*16:01 (P = 0.027) in the patient group, compared to the controls, while the frequency of HLA‐C*06:02 (P < 0.001) and ‐C*18:01 (P = 0.008) in the patients with pemphigus vulgaris was significantly lower than the controls. Regarding the linkage disequilibrium between HLA class I alleles, the HLA‐A*03:01, ‐B*51:01, ‐C*16:02 haplotype (4% vs 0%, P = 0.04) is suggested to be a predisposing factor, whereas HLA‐A*26:01, ‐B*38, ‐C*12:03 haplotype (0% vs 6%, P = 0.01) is suggested to be a protective factor. In conclusion, it is suggested that HLA‐B*44:02, ‐C*04:01, ‐C*15:02 alleles and HLA‐A*03:01, ‐B*51:01, ‐C*16:02 haplotype are susceptibility factors for development of pemphigus vulgaris in the Iranian population, while HLA‐C*06:02, ‐C*18:01 alleles and HLA‐A*26:01, ‐B*38, ‐C*12:03 haplotype may be considered as protective alleles.     

Linkage and association of HLA class II genes with vitiligo in a Dutch population

BACKGROUND: Serological typing of HLA has shown discrepancies in HLA associations with vitiligo in different ethnic populations. OBJECTIVES: To perform genotyping of HLA class II genes on a Dutch vitiligo population in order clearly to identify susceptible and protective HLA alleles in vitiligo. METHODS: HLA typing was carried out by amplifying genomic DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by dot-blot hybridization with sequence-specific oligonucleotides (SSO). Fifty Dutch vitiligo probands, and their parents (150 individuals) and 204 healthy controls were studied. RESULTS: Family-based case-control association studies and linkage disequilibrium analysis showed the linkage and association of DRB4*0101 allele with vitiligo (P(c) = 0.0016, relative risk = 2.21). The family-based association study also provided evidence for linkage and association of DQB1*0303 allele with vitiligo (chi(2) = 7.36, P = 0.006). We measured the clinical relevance of the test by calculating the prevalence corrected positive predictive values (PcPPV). The PcPPV of disease for the DRB4*0101 allele was 0.017 and for the DRB4*0101/0101 genotype was 0.0358. In other words, a DRB4*0101/0101 genotype carries a 3.58% risk of developing vitiligo. CONCLUSIONS: Both DRB4*0101 and DQB1*0303 alleles provide significant susceptibility for vitiligo.     

HLA—B＊5101与白塞病的相关性研究

目的 :　探讨HLA -B 5 10 1等位基因与白塞病之间的相关性。方法 :　应用微量淋巴细胞毒试验检测HLA -A和HLA -B抗原。应用PCR -SSP技术对HLA -B5 1等位基因 (HLA -B 5 10 1～HLA -B 5 10 7)进行分析。 2 0名白塞病患者符合国际白塞病委员会分类诊断标准 ,同时以 30例正常人作对照组。结果 :　在白塞病患者中 ,HLA -B5 1表型频率明显高于对照组 [患者为 6 0 % (12 2 0 ) ,对照组为 16 .7%(5 30 ) ],χ2 =10 .0 4 ,P <0 .0 0 1,校正P值 <0 .0 5 ,相对危险度为 8.98。没有发现其它HLA -A和HLA -B抗原与白塞病相关。在 12例HLA -B5 1阳性的患者中 ,均为等位基因HLA -B 5 10 1,5个HLA -B5 1阳性的对照亦均为等位基因HLA -B 5 10 1。结论 :　等位基因HLA -B 5 10 1与白塞病的易感性相关     

HLA-DQA1和HLA-DQB1等位基因与皖籍汉族人群白癜风的相关性

目的 探讨HLA-DQA1、-DQB1等位基因与皖籍汉族人群白癜风的相关性。方法 采用聚合酶链反应-序列特异性引物(PCR-SSP)方法,检测白癜风患者的HLA-DQA1、-DQB1等位基因。结果 与正常人对照组比较,①白癜风患者HLA-DQA1*0302、-DQB1*0303、-DQB1*0503等位基因频率显著升高,HLA-DQA1*0501等位基因频率显著降低;②HLA-DQA1*0302、-DQA1*0601、-DQB1*0303、-DQB1*0503等位基因频率在儿童型白癜风患者中显著升高,HLA-DQA1*0501等位基因频率显著下降;而成人型白癜风患者HLA-DQB10303等位基因频率显著升高;③HLA-DQA1*0302、-DQB1*0303、-DQB1*0503等位基因频率在泛发型白癜风患者中显著升高,HLA-DQA1*0501等位基因频率显著下降;而局限型白癜风患者HLA-DQB1*0303等位基因显著升高。结论 HLA-DQA1*0302、-DQA1*0601、-DQB1*0303、-DQB1*0503、-DQA1*0501等位基因可能与白癜风相关,不同类型白癜风在其遗传背景上可能存在异质性。     

Association of HLA-DQA1 and DQB1 genes with vitiligo in Chinese Hans

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is an acquired depigmentary disorder of the skin and hair which results from selective destruction of melanocytes. Serological typing and genotyping of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) have shown discrepancies in HLA associations with vitiligo in different ethnic populations. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific primer (PCR-SSP) method was used to analyze the distribution of HLA-DQA(1) and -DQB(1) alleles among 187 patients with vitiligo and 273 healthy controls through Epi Info version 6 package (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA). RESULTS: The frequencies of HLA-DQA1*0302 (OR = 1.98, P(c) < 0.01), -DQB1*0303 (OR = 3.14, P(c) < 0.001), and -DQB1*0503 (OR = 3.36, P(c) < 0.05) alleles were significantly increased in patients with vitiligo compared with controls, and HLA-DQA(1)*0501 (OR = 0.40, P(c) < 0.01) allele frequency was highly decreased. HLA-DQA1*0302 (OR = 5.19, P(c) < 0.001), -DQA1*0601 (OR = 2.95, P(c) < 0.05), -DQB1*0303 (OR = 4.50, P(c) < 0.001), and -DQB1*0503 (OR = 6.69, P(c) < 0.001) alleles were positively associated, whereas HLA-DQA1*0501 (OR = 0.05, P(c) < 0.001) allele was negatively associated with childhood vitiligo patients, and HLA-DQB1*0303 (OR = 2.76, P(c) < 0.001) allele was positively associated with adult vitiligo patients compared with controls. The frequency of HLA-DQB1*0303 (OR = 3.72, P(c) < 0.001) allele was significantly increased in localized vitiligo patients vs. controls, whereas HLA-DQA1*0302 (OR = 2.47, P(c) < 0.01), -DQB1*0303 (OR = 2.67, P(c) < 0.01), and -DQB1*0503 (OR = 4.46, P(c) < 0.01) allele frequencies were significantly increased and -DQA1*0501 (OR = 0.27, P(c) < 0.01) allele frequency was highly decreased in generalized vitiligo patients. CONCLUSIONS: HLA-DQA1*0302, -DQA1*0601, -DQB1*0303, and -DQB1*0503 alleles could be susceptible alleles of vitiligo, while HLA-DQA1*0501 allele could be a protective allele in Chinese Hans. There may be different genetic backgrounds between vitiligo patients of childhood and adult, localized and generalized.     

HLA markers in familial Lichen Sclerosus

Background: Lichen sclerosus (LS) has been identified with increased frequency in families,often associated with HLA markers, mainly DQ7. A genetic co‐etiology seems likely in this setting. Moreover, there is an association of LS with autoimmune disorders, such as the presence of anti‐thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies (anti‐TPO), a hallmark of autoimmune thyroid diseases. Patients and Methods: In 3 families affected by LS, we verified their HLA markers, and identified previously undiagnosed cases of LS and autoimmune disorders. 30 individuals were examined with history, skin biopsy, HLA class I and II typing by PCR‐SSP, and measurement of anti‐TPO, free thyroxine and thyroidstimulating hormones (TSH) levels. Results: There were 8 cases of LS, 50 % of them anti‐TPO+. Autoimmune disorders were found in 40 % (total) and in 87.5 % of those affected. Most common HLA markers were B*15, B*57, CW*03, CW*07, CW*18, DRB1*04, DRB1*07, DRB4*. The three latter have been previously associated with LS. Conclusion: New cases of LS and autoimmune disorders can be detected in first degree relatives of patients with LS. The presence of anti‐TPO antibodies strongly suggests autoimmune thyroiditis. There is intra‐familial association between the haplotype HLA‐B*15 ‐DRB1*04 ‐DRB4* and anti‐TPO,emphasizing their link with thyroiditis. New familial approaches might help to make clear the pathogenesis of LS and its association with autoimmune diseases.